Cardiff Airport - General Thread

[CAN&I]

Could be any reason why he stepped down. He's been in the job for 8 years, i'd be shocked if it was anything to do with the case against the Welsh Government.

In no way disagreeing with you or saying otherwise, BUT...

...he did take it upon himself to position a cynical campaign against a much smaller competitor that relied on dubious spin, press and media coverage and political positioning, precisely to push the buttons of those who are no fans of CWL's ownership and funding, only for himself and his legal team to see the CAT judgement find against BRS unanimously and on all points.

His media showcases in Cardiff both in the lead up to and during the proceedings lacked class, as did his press response last week. The judgement cast numerous questions concerning the credibility of the BRS's submission and arguments and he's also cost his business £2million and a whole load of negative press and sentiment at a time when Bristol Airport can least afford it, with the planning permission request into North Somerset Council only recently submitted.

Not calling it as the sole reason for his departure. However, the timing of the announcement (i.e. amidst the CAT proceedings, a possible appeal and the planning submisison) is nevertheless interesting.

Its also notable that he's staying on until the end of the year while a successor is found, which implies there is nobody waiting in the wings and a recruitment process will be required. If this was a manged departure a long time coming, there would be news of an appointment in the same press release. Equally, if he had a new job lined up, the release would have been worded differently. Instead this amounts to what appears to be a long, slow break-up.

For all his acheivements in role, his professional conduct and personal handling of the case against Cardiff Airport did himself no favours whatsoever.

 

[Jerry]

For all his acheivements in role, his professional conduct and personal handling of the case against Cardiff Airport did himself no favours whatsoever.

Obviously we don't know what's happening, could be loads of factors but also losing the case could be part of it thinking about it. The fact that there is no immediate successor is interesting.
What will be interesting post election is how Bristol approaches its relationship with the Welsh government in the future especially a new one whether they'll try and take a more collaborative approach. Guess that depends on the new CEO and the owners.

 

[CAN&I]

Obviously we don't know what's happening, could be loads of factors but also losing the case could be part of it thinking about it. The fact that there is no immediate successor is interesting.
What will be interesting post election is how Bristol approaches its relationship with the Welsh government in the future especially a new one whether they'll try and take a more collaborative approach. Guess that depends on the new CEO and the owners.

Indeed. As you say, we can only hope for a more collaborative approach with the new personnel involved at both airports and the Welsh Government.

Again, not calling the CAT outcome as the reason for his departure, just questioning the timing and the detail involved given everything that has gone on / is going on.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

But I suppose the counter argument is that by getting so far ahead the playing field isn't level anymore and are Cardiff and Bristol actually even on the same playing field anymore?
I do personally see having control of APD as a self governance thing. Wales governments should have all the tools available to them to attract airlines to Wales to connect Wales like the governments of other countries do.

The first and second paragraph are a contradiction of each other.

On one hand your saying CWL and BRS aren't on a level playing field because Bristol took better decisions in its past with the private sector investment it received to grow. Which is how private business works. You snooze, you lose.

And on the other hand your saying the Welsh Government should control APD, and im guessing reduce it to attract airlines, with is effectively tax payer subsidy to attract airlines.



There is also no guarantee airlines will reduce their prices and will just charge the same and pocket the extra.

 

[Jerry]

On one hand your saying CWL and BRS aren't on a level playing field because Bristol took better decisions in its past with the private sector investment it received to grow. Which is how private business works. You snooze, you lose.

And on the other hand your saying the Welsh Government should control APD, and im guessing reduce it to attract airlines, with is effectively tax payer subsidy to attract airlines.

I don't see how they contradict each other. Bristol is incredibly successful and has 10x the passenger numbers. That creates a distorted playing field between the two airports.
As for APD it's a tax. Taxes are used by governments as tools in the economy in this case to attract airlines to create better connectivity and create jobs at the airport. It's no different from a government cutting rates for small businesses or cutting corporation tax just in a smaller area of the economy.

There is also no guarantee airlines will reduce their prices and will just charge the same and pocket the extra.

But it wouldn't be about airlines cutting prices. Any cut or change would be about making it more attractive for an airline to operate from Cardiff or to operate more marginal routes.

 

[CAN&I]

Not sure the cutting of APD amounts to a "tax payer subsidy" to attract airlines.

As has already been clarified in this thread, devolution of APD would equate to a reduction in the block-grant awarded to the Welsh Government, who would then have to somehow absorb the reduced amount of tax income they receive if they decided to reduce it. That is the same position for any devolved tax.

WG would also have the choice of either maintaining or increasing the tax or to reducing or scraping it to encourage potential airline investment and growth.

As Jerry rightly states, taxes are not merely income generators. They are also economic levers open for use by either Government to balance tax income against economic benefit. Fiscal leverage can generate investment and growth which would (in theory) result in an associated benefit to the economy. The decisioning involved does not therefore amount to a direct "tax payer subsidy" to airlines.

It would be a gamble for sure as airlines may still be reluctant to look beyond Bristol Airport regardless of the carrot on offer and existing service providers could maintain the status quo by pocketing the difference. Should that prove to be the case the Government would need to balance the books or reverse any tax cuts.

Besides, this is all hypothetical as the devolution of APD is unlikely to be sanctioned by the UK Government any time soon.